On Wednesday 10 September 2016 it’s World Suicide Prevention Day. Warrington Borough Council’s Public Health Team is encouraging staff and volunteers in local organisations to mark the day and to take small actions which demonstrate a practical commitment to promoting emotional wellbeing in their work place. This might be through:

• encouraging colleagues to focus on emotional wellbeing in work
• circulating information about support available for people who are feeling suicidal
• signing up for suicide prevention training 

Focus on Wellbeing in Your Workplace

The theme of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day is: “Connect, communicate, care”. Social relationships and connections are important for our emotional health and are recognised as one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, (simple everyday actions which research has shown can help us maintain or improve our emotional wellbeing.)

For ideas about how you and your colleagues might fit the Five Ways to Wellbeing into your everyday working life visit Mind’s site.

Ask for Help

One important aspect of World Suicide Prevention Day is to raise awareness of support available and to encourage people to connect with support services if they can’t cope and need help.

On Warrington’s mental health awareness website www.happyoksad.org.uk you can find information about the range of local support services available. Perhaps you’d like to order some of the free Happy? OK? Sad? promotional materials and distribute them to your colleagues, or put up a display in your workplace. (See attached order form).

If anyone you know is finding it hard to cope, is feeling desperate, or is having thoughts of suicide, then they can talk to their GP, or ring the Warrington Assessment Team on 01925 666647, 24 hours a day. The Assessment Team is for adults with moderate to severe symptoms of mental health problems.

People who are finding it hard to cope can also contact Samaritans, PAPYRUS or CALM.

Samaritans
Samaritans offer a confidential listening service, available at any time of the day or night to anyone in distress, including people who may feel suicidal.
Tel. 116 123
jo@samaritans.org
www.samaritans.org

PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS offers support to young people who are having thoughts of suicide and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be at risk of suicide.
HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41
Text 07786 209697
pat@papyrus-uk.org 
www.papyrus-uk.org

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

CALM is a national charity which supports men who are down, or in crisis (though CALM will listen to anyone who needs help or support). CALM’s free confidential helpline and webchat are open 7 days a week, 5.00pm to midnight.

Helpline 0800 58 58 58

Website www.thecalmzone.net

Suicide Prevention Training
Warrington Borough Council’s Public Health Team offers Basic Suicide Prevention Training free of charge, to front line staff and volunteers in not-for profit organisations, working for the benefit of Warrington residents. (For more details see attachment).

The charities PAPYRUS and Samaritans both offer a number of different training sessions focussing on suicide prevention. On their websites you can find more details about the range of training available:

PAPYRUS training

Samaritans training

World Suicide Prevention Day is supported by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organisation (WHO). More information about World Suicide Prevention Day can be found on www.iasp.info/wspd/